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KEEPING SCORE: Germany's DAX gained 1.3 percent to 10,890.97 and Britain's FTSE 100 added 0.4 percent to 6,843.73. France's CAC 40 was 0.7 percent higher at 4,713.20. Wall Street appeared set for gains. Dow futures rose 0.4 percent to 17,901 and S&P 500 futures gained 0.3 percent to 2,072.30.
GREEK DEBT: Shares were lackluster in many markets after an emergency meeting Wednesday between Greece's new government and finance ministers from nations that use the euro ended in a stalemate. Greek officials proposed renegotiating the terms of an international bailout that has imposed years of punishing austerity on the country. There is a risk the standoff could eventually end with Greece defaulting on its debts and leaving the euro common currency.
THE QUOTE: "Global markets seem to be in unchartered waters right now with the Greece issue presenting significant uncertainty," IG market strategist Stan Shamu said in a commentary. "As a result, it certainly seems caution is warranted and investors are quite happy to take some profits off the table as markets consolidate."
EARNINGS RESCUE: Sentiment was lifted by improvements in profitability for some major companies reporting quarterly results. Resource giant Rio Tinto said its full year net profit jumped 78 percent in 2014, while French automaker Renault reported its net profit more than doubled.
ASIA'S DAY: Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.9 percent to 17,979.72 after being closed for a holiday Wednesday and Shanghai's Composite Index rose 0.5 percent to 3,173.42, but most other Asian markets fell. South Korea's Kospi lost 0.2 percent to 1,941.63, Australia's S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.4 percent to 5,743.60 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 0.2 percent to 24,261.83.
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